Interior trim system and method for home construction

ABSTRACT

Interior trim items for use in home construction, such as window and door trim assemblies, stairway and landing railing assemblies, fireplace surrounds, base cap boxes, panel assemblies, knee wall trim assemblies, and chair rail sections, are pre-assembled off-site from standard millwork materials based upon specifications provided by the builder, and delivered to the site where a home is under construction to fill orders placed by the builder. A complete service can be provided for builders by pre-assembling, delivering and installing the interior trim items.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to home construction and, morespecifically, to systems and methods for providing interior trim.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Construction of a new home unit typically proceeds in stages oraccording to a schedule established by the builder. At some point orstage in construction, the house has been fully framed, windows havebeen installed, drywall or other covering has been installed on theinterior walls, and the unit is ready for the installation of interiortrim and other woodwork. The term “interior trim” refers to thoseelements that are primarily architectural in nature and generallyconstructed of lengths of molding and similar cut-and-fitted lengths ofmaterial. Interior trim is generally composed of wood andwood-substitute materials, though other materials, such as plastic andfaux stone, have been used in some instances. Examples of interior triminclude chair rails, window and door casings, jambs, and stools, ceilingmoldings, and baseboard moldings. Molding and similar millwork itemsused for interior trim are produced in aesthetically pleasing profileshapes, such as varieties and combinations of chamfers, flutes, ogees,etc. Additional types of millwork used in interior trim include stairwayhandrails, and fireplace surrounds, and turned items such as stairbalusters and finials.

At each stage in home construction, the builder has the buildingmaterials needed for that stage or the next stage delivered to theconstruction site. Therefore, shortly before the interior trim stage(sometimes colloquially referred to in the industry as “trimming out”),the builder has a millwork supplier deliver a quantity of molding andother millwork items the builder estimates will be required. Molding andsimilar linear items used in U.S. home construction are typicallymanufactured in standard lengths of 12, 14 or 16 feet (depending uponthe manufacturer) and in standard metric lengths in other countries. Thearchitectural plan for a home may specify many different types ofmolding and other millwork items. For example, the chair rails aretypically of one profile, while the window casings are of anotherprofile, and the door casings are of still another. Moreover, the planmay specify one type of chair rail or window casing in one room or areaof the house and a different type of chair rail in another room or areaof the house. Accordingly, a supplier may deliver, for example, severalstacks of 14-foot lengths of molding to the construction site, with somestacks being of one type of molding, other stacks being of a secondtype, and so on.

When the time comes to trim out a room of the house, the workers go tothe stacks of molding and other millwork (which may be stored in thegarage of the house or other enclosed area for protection against theelements and theft), sort through them to find the items needed for thatroom, and cut lengths of each item as needed according to thearchitectural plans. For example, the plan may indicate that, to trimout a certain window in a certain room, will require two pieces of afirst length of a first item for the sides of the window casing, twopieces of a second length of that item for the top and bottom of thecasing, and one piece of a certain length of yet a third item for thewindow stool. (A window jamb can be constructed at trim-out time alongwith the window casing, stool, etc., but more typically is installed atthe time the window itself is installed.) Typically, a worker will pullpieces from the stacks, measure each to length, cut it with a saw (whichmay be set up elsewhere on the premises), and proceed in this manneruntil all or most of the required pieces have been cut to length for thewindow in that room or group of rooms. Because windows tend to be of astandard size, the worker, rather than having to refer to thearchitectural plans themselves, may be aided by having a cut list thatspecifies what pieces are needed for such a window, but the worker isnonetheless still burdened by having to cut each piece to length at theconstruction site and then fit them together on the wall of the room.Complex cuts are sometimes required, particularly for window stools, anda worker may make multiple trips to the saw to re-cut and notch a windowstool until a good fit in the window sill is obtained.

Staircases present even more challenging and labor-intensive trim workthan windows. To trim out a staircase, the worker must performessentially all of the steps described above relating to trimming out awindow, plus drilling properly angled bores in the handrails into whichthe ends of the balusters are fit. All of the pieces are assembled inplace on the staircase, and errors in measurement, cutting and boringcan require time-consuming repairs and multiple trips to the millworkstorage area, the saw, etc.

It can be appreciated that obtaining and cutting pieces of millwork tothe required lengths for trimming out a room or even a single window isnot an exact science, as measurements and cuts can be inexact, andmolding typically is available for delivery to the site only in standardlengths. The best a builder can do is estimate the total number oflinear feet of each type of molding or other linear millwork items andhave the supplier deliver what is estimated. Invariably, after the househas been trimmed out, the builder is left with unused material, whichunfortunately for the builder is often in lengths too small to be of useand is thus discarded as scrap. It is estimated that the amount of suchscrap millwork material left over from construction of a single home inthe United States by major home building companies is, on average,200-300 linear feet. With a single nationwide homebuilder oftensimultaneously involved in the construction of dozens of communities,each with dozens of homes, all over the country, the potential waste isenormous.

It is apparent in the art that the U.S. homebuilding industry could savemillions of dollars each year by minimizing interior trim waste andenhancing the efficiency with which interior trim is provided andinstalled. The present invention addresses these problems anddeficiencies and others in the manner described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to providing pre-assembled interior trimitems for home construction, such as window and door trim assemblies,stairway and landing railing assemblies, fireplace surrounds, base capboxes, panel assemblies, knee wall trim assemblies, chair rail sections,etc. by assembling them off-site from standard millwork materials anddelivering them as ordered by the home builder to the site where a homeis under construction. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, theentity that pre-assembles and delivers the trim items also installs themin the home, thereby providing the builder with what can be called a“turn-key” approach to trimming out homes under construction. Thebuilder need only make available to the entity the interior trimspecifications for the one or more home plans to be built and, eitherconcurrently or at a later time, place an order with the entity. Thebuilder can place an order in this manner for trimming out an entiredevelopment of multiple homes or even multiple developments on which thebuilder may be working. At the appropriate time during the constructionof each home, the trim items for that home are delivered to theconstruction site. Most or all of these steps, including the cutting ofmolding and other millwork needed to construct the trim items, can beperformed under computer control.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the items are not onlydelivered to the site, but the trim items required to trim out each roomof the home (per the specifications previously received from thebuilder) are delivered and placed in that room to further facilitateinstallation. With the pre-assembled trim items conveniently placed ineach room, the entity can then proceed to install the items or, ifpreferred by the builder, the builder's employees can install the items.The items placed in each room can be bundled together, with installationinstructions included in each bundle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a window trim assembly, which isone example of a pre-assembled interior trim item.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the window trim assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is side elevational view of a stair railing assembly, which isanother example of a pre-assembled interior trim item.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a panel assembly, which is stillanother example of a pre-assembled interior trim item.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of panel assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is perspective view of a knee wall trim assembly, which is yetanother example of a pre-assembled interior trim item.

FIG. 8 is a generalized perspective view of a portion of the interior ofa room in a home, showing installed in the room a window trim assembly,door trim assembly, fireplace surround, various base cap boxes, and achair rail, which are all examples of pre-assembled interior trim items.

FIG. 9 is block diagram illustrating a computer control system foreffecting steps of the method.

FIG. 10 is generalized perspective view depicting a bundle of interiortrim items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like reference numerals indicate likecomponents to enhance the understanding of the invention through thedescription of the drawings. Also, although specific features,configurations, arrangements and steps are discussed below, it should beunderstood that such specificity is for illustrative purposes only. Aperson skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other features,configurations, arrangements and steps are useful without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an exemplary method for providing interiortrim items in home construction includes, described in further detailbelow: a step 10 of obtaining interior trim specifications from one ormore builders relating to trim items for homes being constructed or tobe constructed; a step 12 of cutting pieces from molding or otherstandard millwork needed to make such trim items; a step 14 ofpre-assembling the trim items from the cut pieces or other millwork; astep 16 of receiving orders from one or more of the builders; a step 18of gathering the ordered items by, for example, bundling together theitems to be installed in the same room of the home; and a step 20 ofdelivering the items to the builder's construction site and placing eachbundle in the room in which its trim items are to be installed. Afurther step (not shown) includes installing the trim items, which canbe performed by the entity that pre-assembled and delivered the itemsor, if preferred by the builder, by the builder's employees.

It is important to note that, in the exemplary embodiment of theinvention, the company or other entity that obtains the specifications,cuts the pieces, assembles the items, and has the items delivered is notthe builder. Rather, the builder contracts with or otherwise placesorders with this entity to have the entity perform the trimming out of ahome the builder is constructing. The invention thus relieves thebuilder from having to receive and store standard lengths of molding andother millwork items at the construction site, cut pieces to length andfit them in place one by one, on an as-needed basis, to trim out thevarious rooms of the home, and deal with the resultant scrap piecesinevitably left over from this process.

Step 10 can be performed at any suitable time, such as well in advanceof the beginning of home construction at a site. The builder makesavailable to the entity offering to pre-assemble trim items the interiortrim specifications for one or more home plans. Typically, a builderwill construct several different home plans in a development, designatedby unique marketing names or model numbers. Each home plan may haveunique interior trim specifications or may share aspects of its trimspecifications with those of other home plans. For example, the interiortrim specifications for a home plan designated the “Dunsniffen” mayspecify the trim for each of a predetermined number of types (e.g.,sizes, styles, etc.) of windows, doors, chair rails, ceilings,baseboards, fireplace surrounds and so forth. In other words, forexample, the specifications may list three different types of windowsused in the Dunsniffen plan, and the interior trim to be used on each.The trim specified for one type of window may comprise one type ofmolding, while the trim specified for another type of window used in thesame home plan may comprise another type of molding. The trimspecifications referred to herein can have any suitable format. Althougharchitectural blueprint-style specifications are suitable, a tabularformat is preferred to enhance computer entry.

Referring briefly to FIG. 9, the entity can enter the trimspecifications received from a builder into a computer system 22 via acomputer terminal 24 for reasons described below. Alternatively, thebuilder itself can upload trim specifications into computer system 22via a network 26 such as the Internet. If the specifications arereceived in a format that does not readily allow a computer to extractthe essential information regarding the pieces that are needed toconstruct the specified trim items and how they are to be assembled, thespecifications can be converted to such a format, either manually by anoperator or automatically using suitable conversion software that couldbe created or otherwise obtained. The software calculates the exactfootage of each type of molding or other millwork needed to constructthe specified trim items. As described below, this information can beused to control computer-controlled manufacturing equipment such assaws, drills, and the like.

Returning to FIG. 1, at step 12 pieces required for the specified trimitems are cut from standard millwork. The term “standard millwork” asused in this patent specification refers to molding and other millworkmaterials in the standard lengths and forms that they are typically soldin the building supply trade. For example, for molding, lengths of 12,14 and 16 feet are standard in the United States. A worker or workshopteam can perform this step manually by referring to the trimspecifications, pulling standard millwork items from an inventory ofsuch items in the workshop, and cutting the various lengths needed toassemble a trim item. Alternatively, the step can be performed at leastpartly under computer control. Referring briefly again to FIG. 9, a cutlist can be generated from the trim specifications entered into computersystem 22, and the cut list can be used to control a computer-controlledsaw 28, a computer-controlled drill 29 (for, for example, boringbaluster holes in handrail millwork), or a more comprehensive automatedmanufacturing system (not shown) that includes such machines and others.

At step 14, the cut pieces are assembled to make the trim items, eitherby themselves or together with additional millwork items, and associatedfasteners (e.g., nails, staples, etc.) and other conventionalconstruction materials as may be necessary. As with step 12, this stepcan be performed using hand tools or, alternatively, with the assistanceof computer-controlled assembly machinery (not shown). Trim items can beassembled in advance of receiving orders from the builder and aninventory of items built up, or assembled in response to specificorders. In any event, the assembled trim items should be available fordelivery to the construction site at the appropriate point in theconstruction process. The entity responsible for assembly and deliverycan monitor construction and deliver at the appropriate point withoutfurther input from the builder, or the builder can advise the entity ofthe date to schedule the delivery.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, a window trim assembly 30 is an example ofan interior trim item that can be pre-assembled (i.e., in a workshop forlater delivery to a home construction site) in accordance with thepresent invention. Window trim assembly 30 can include a window casing32 and a window jamb 34, and in most instances further includes a windowstool 36. In the illustrated example, casing 32 comprises four pieces ofmolding, 38, 40, 42 and 44, having been cut to length with one or bothends mitered at 45 degrees at step 12 as described above. The window ofthis example is rectangular, and therefore casing 32 and jamb 34 arerectangular, but a similar trim assembly can be provided for a window ofany shape and size in accordance with the trim specifications.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a railing assembly 48 is another example of aninterior trim item that can be pre-assembled for later installation.Railing assembly 48 can include a handrail 50, a lower rail 52, and anumber of balusters 54, some or all of which are cut to length at step12 and assembled at step 14 as described above. (Like certain otherspecialty millwork items, such as rosettes, finials, etc., balusters 54may not be produced simply by cutting them to length at step 12 fromstandard millwork materials but rather may be produced in part on alathe or obtained from a commercial source if their shapes are otherthan the standard cylindrical, square, etc., shapes of availablestandard millwork materials.) Handrail 50 is made from a type ofstandard millwork material having a profile especially suited forstairway handrails and the like. Thus, like other standard millworkmaterials referred to herein, it is generally available only in standardlengths and must be cut to length in accordance with the home plan trimspecifications. In assembling railing assembly 48, the ends of balusters54 are secured within bores or holes in rails 50 and 52 in theconventional manner. The holes are bored at step 12 after rails 50 and52 have been cut to length. A newel 56 and other pieces that may bespecified can be included in railing assembly 48 or, alternatively, suchother pieces can be added at the time railing assembly 48 is installedin the home rather than at the time is assembled in the workshop.Although railing assembly 30 in this example has an inclined shapebecause it is for a staircase (indicated in dashed line in FIG. 4 forreference purposes), a railing assembly that is similar but with a levelshape can be provided for a landing or other level area. Railingassemblies having other shapes and sizes can be assembled in the same orsimilar manner in accordance with the trim specifications.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5-6, a panel assembly 58, which comprises one ormore base cap boxes 60 mounted to a sheet-like panel 66, is anotherexample of an interior trim item that can be pre-assembled for laterinstallation. In the illustrated embodiment, panel assembly 58 alsoincludes molding 68 of the type used for chair rails, but in otherembodiments can include any other suitable type of molding or no moldingat all. Each base cap box 60 comprises a rectangular sheet-like piece orsub-panel 70 framed on all sides by molding 72. Accordingly, theadjoining ends of the pieces of molding 72 are usually mitered at 45degrees. In this manner, pre-assembled panel assemblies of any size andshape can be provided in accordance with the trim specifications.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a knee wall trim assembly 74 is anotherexample of an interior trim item that can be pre-assembled for laterinstallation. The term “knee wall” refers to a low interior wall. A kneewall typically comprises framing-and-drywall construction like any otherinterior wall, but is capped and edged to provide a solid, attractivesurface. Knee wall trim assembly 74 has this conventional configuration,comprising a knee wall cap 76 to which two knee wall sides 78 and 80 areattached in a generally U-shaped configuration. Pre-assembled in thismanner and then installed on a knee wall (indicated in dashed line inFIG. 7), knee wall cap 76 caps the top of the knee wall, with knee wallsides 78 and 80 providing edging in contact with the drywall in the samemanner as though it had been built in place.

Returning to FIG. 1, at step 16 the entity that is pre-assembling theinterior trim items as described above receives an order from a builder.As noted above, the entity can build up an inventory of pre-assembledtrim items or assemble them in response to orders received frombuilders. Thus, in other embodiments of the invention, step 16 can occurat other times with respect to the other steps. Indeed, a builder couldplace an order before making the trim specifications available for thehome plan in which the ordered items are to be installed, or a buildercould provide trim specifications along with each order.

Referring briefly to FIG. 9 again, the order can be entered intocomputer system 22 via computer terminal 24 associated with the workshopor remotely (e.g., by the builder itself via network 26. The builder canspecify whether to deliver pre-assembled items, pre-cut but unassembledpieces, or a combination thereof, whether to deliver them only or todeliver and install them, and options for packaging and bundling (seebelow). With suitable software control, which persons skilled in the artto which the invention relates can provide, computer system 22 cancoordinate order entry, manufacturing, supply ordering, inventorycontrol, delivery, installation, and the scheduling of such functions,in the same or similar manner in which it is known to control andcoordinate such functions in conventional manufacturing-orientedbusinesses.

Returning to FIG. 1, at step 18 the ordered items are gathered in theworkshop or an associated staging area in preparation for delivery toone or more homes under construction. The items can be labeled toidentify the development, home plan, and lot number of the home underconstruction to which the item is to be delivered. Items can also belabeled with installation instructions. Items that a trim specificationidentifies as being located in the same room as each other can bebundled together by, for example, wrapping them in plastic wrap, bindingthem, or simply placing them in the same pile, as illustrated ingeneralized form in FIG. 10. The entire bundle 82 can be labeled in themanner described above, including providing installation instructions(in multiple languages, such as English and Spanish, in areas where amulti-cultural labor force is prevalent), and moreover, can be labeledto identify the room of the home in which the items are to be installed.For example, the label can identify the room as the “Kitchen,” “MasterBedroom,” “Laundry Room,” etc. The instructions can include step-by-stepinstallation instructions with diagrams showing where in the room eachitem is to be installed.

The items or bundles to be installed can then be loaded onto a truck orother delivery vehicle (not shown). A forklift can be loaded onto thetruck as well to be used at the home site to facilitate unloadingpalletized bundles. With an increasing number of homebuilders operatingnationwide and building many of the same home plans in differentdevelopments across the country, not only delivery from a singleoff-site workshop to local construction sites but also a nationwidedelivery network from one or more factories to far-flung constructionsites is contemplated within the realm of the present invention.

As noted above, the loaded bundles can be destined for multiple rooms inmultiple homes of differing plans. The homes may be located in one ormore developments. The bundles may be grouped or further labeled orcoded by development, plan, lot number, or other means to facilitatedelivery to the proper destination. For example, groups of bundlesdestined for the same home site (lot) or the same plan can be bundledtogether, e.g., on a pallet, to facilitate loading and unloading. Inother words, for example, in a development in which a builder isconstructing some homes of the Dunsniffen plan and other homes of theFordmont plan, some group of bundles can be labeled “Dunsniffen” andothers “Fordmont.” It can be seen that a builder could thus place anorder by indicating a certain number of Dunsniffen trim packages and acertain number of Fordmont trim packages. The order can specify whetherthe packages are to be delivered and installed or just delivered. Thus,a Fordmont package can contain all of the pre-assembled interior trimitems needed, according to the builder's Fordmont interior trimspecification, to completely trim out a Fordmont home. Each bundle inthe package can contain all interior trim items needed to completelytrim out the corresponding room in the home and can be labeledaccordingly (e.g., “Fordmont Master Bedroom”).

At step 20 the ordered items are delivered to the homes underconstruction. Items bundled together to indicate installation in anidentified room of the home can be delivered to that room, i.e., placedon the floor of the room. Workers can then readily remove the items fromthe bundle in a room and follow the included instructions for installingthe items. Installation can be performed upon delivery or at a latertime.

The manner in which an exemplary group of trim items is installed afterdelivery is illustrated in FIG. 8. In the portion of the room interiorillustrated in FIG. 8, window trim assembly 30 (see FIGS. 2-3) isinstalled in one wall of the home, and a door trim assembly 84 isinstalled in another wall. The wall in which window trim assembly 30 isinstalled is, of course, an exterior wall of the home, and the windowitself (not shown) is disposed on the exterior side (not shown) of thatwall. Typically, exterior windows are installed before a home is trimmedout. Beneath the window, a chair rail 86 is installed on the wall. Asunderstood in the art, a chair rail is an interior trim item made from apiece of molding of suitable profile that has been cut to a specifiedlength. One or both ends may be mitered if so specified. Note thatalthough not shown in FIG. 8, the above-described panel assemblies 58topped with such chair rail molding (FIGS. 5-6) alternatively would beappropriate installed along this wall.

A fireplace surround 88, which can be defined as a decorativesemi-rectangular frame surrounding three sides of the stone, brick orother non-wood functional portion of the fireplace, is installed inanother wall. A fireplace mantel can be included as an integral part offireplace surround 88 or considered a separate trim item.

Base cap boxes 60 of the type described above with regard to FIG. 5 areshown installed above the fireplace in FIG. 8. Like the otherpre-assembled interior trim items to which the present inventionrelates, base cap boxes 60 are assembled off-site and then delivered andinstalled (in this case, secured to the wall), in contrast with theconventional method of cutting the sheet and molding at the home site tothe necessary sizes, and assembling the pieces in place on the wall.Base cap boxes 60 can be used in various other configurations in a homeand can, as described above, form part of a pre-assembled panel assembly58 (FIG. 5). Indeed, the entire trim area shown above the fireplacecould comprise one or more of such panel assemblies. Note that in such aconfiguration the molding 90 abutting the ceiling is typically of thestyle known as crown molding rather than the chair rail style moldingshown in FIGS. 5-6.

Although not shown for purposes of clarity, if the room were to have astaircase or landing, a railing assembly of the type described abovewith regard to FIG. 4 would be delivered and installed along with theother trim items for the room. Likewise, although not shown for purposesof clarity, if the room were to have a knee wall, a knee wall trimassembly of the type described above with regard to FIG. 7 would bedelivered and installed along with the other trim items for the room.

The illustrated interior trim items (i.e., window trim assemblies, doortrim assemblies, a railing assemblies, fireplace surrounds, base capboxes, panel assemblies, knee wall assemblies, and chair rail sections)are only intended to represent examples, in view of which still otherswill readily occur to persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates. Essentially any type of interior trim known in the art can beprovided in the form of a pre-assembled interior trim item accordancewith the present invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to this invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided that they come within the scope ofany claims and their equivalents. With regard to the claims, no claim isintended to invoke the sixth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. Section 112 unlessit includes the term “means for” followed by a participle.

1. A method for providing interior trim items in home construction,comprising the steps of: cutting a plurality of pieces from standardmillwork materials, each piece corresponding to a portion of an interiortrim item; pre-assembling the cut pieces into the interior trim item;and delivering the pre-assembled interior trim item to a constructionsite where a home is under construction.
 2. The method claimed in claim1, wherein the interior trim item is selected from the group consistingof: a window trim assembly, a door trim assembly, a railing assembly, afireplace surround, a base cap box, a panel assembly, a knee wallassembly, and a chair rail section.
 3. The method claimed in claim 1,wherein: the trim item is a window assembly; and the pre-assembling stepcomprises assembling the cut pieces into a window jamb integrallyattached to a window casing.
 4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein:the trim item is a railing assembly; and the pre-assembling stepcomprises assembling the cut pieces into upper and lower railings with aplurality of balusters parallel to one another and extending between theupper and lower railings, with ends of the balusters secured withinbores in the upper and lower railings.
 5. The method claimed in claim 1,wherein: the trim item is a panel assembly; and the pre-assembling stepcomprises assembling the cut pieces into at least one base cap boxintegrally attached to a panel.
 6. The method claimed in claim 1,wherein: the trim item is a knee wall trim assembly; and thepre-assembling step comprises assembling the cut pieces into two sidesattached to a cap in a U-shaped configuration.
 7. The method claimed inclaim 1, wherein the delivering step comprises the steps of: identifyingeach room of the home for which trim items are to be delivered;preparing a bundle containing all pre-assembled interior trim itemsassociated with each identified room; delivering the bundle to the site;and placing a bundle in each identified room in preparation forinstalling the trim items of the bundle associated with the identifiedroom.
 8. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of preparing abundle comprises including installation instructions in the bundle.
 9. Amethod for providing interior trim items in home construction,comprising the steps of: obtaining interior trim specifications from abuilder for each of a plurality of home plans, each interior trimspecification identifying interior trim items for one of the home plans;pre-assembling interior trim items in accordance with predeterminedassembly plans for interior trim items identified in the interior trimspecifications; receiving an order from a builder for interior trimitems for a home plan identified in the order; gathering pre-assembledinterior trim items listed in the interior trim specification for thehome plan identified in the order; and delivering pre-assembled interiortrim items for the identified home plan to a construction site where ahome is under construction.
 10. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein:the step of obtaining interior trim specifications comprises providingthe trim specifications to a computer system; and the step ofpre-assembling interior trim items in accordance with predeterminedassembly plans comprises the step of cutting, under computer control inresponse to the assembly plans, a plurality of pieces from standardmillwork materials, each piece corresponding to a portion of an interiortrim item for one of the home plans.
 11. The method claimed in claim 9,wherein interior trim items for the home plan identified in the orderinclude interior trims items selected from the group consisting of: awindow trim assembly, a door trim assembly, a railing assembly, afireplace surround, a base cap box, a panel assembly, a knee wallassembly, and a chair rail section.
 12. The method claimed in claim 9,wherein: at least one of the interior trim items for the home planidentified in the order is a window assembly; and the pre-assemblingstep comprises assembling the cut pieces into a window jamb integrallyattached to a window casing.
 13. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein:at least one of the interior trim items for the home plan identified inthe order is a a railing assembly; and the pre-assembling step comprisesassembling the cut pieces into upper and lower railings with a pluralityof balusters parallel to one another and extending between the upper andlower railings, with ends of the balusters secured within bores in theupper and lower railings.
 14. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein: atleast one of the interior trim items for the home plan identified in theorder is a is a panel assembly; and the pre-assembling step comprisesassembling the cut pieces into at least one base cap box integrallyattached to a panel.
 15. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein: atleast one of the interior trim items for the home plan identified in theorder is a knee wall trim assembly; and the pre-assembling stepcomprises assembling the cut pieces into two sides attached to a cap ina U-shaped configuration.
 16. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein thedelivering step comprises the steps of: identifying each room of thehome plan for which trim items are to be delivered; preparing a bundlecontaining all pre-assembled interior trim items associated with eachidentified room; delivering the bundle to the site; and placing a bundlein each identified room in preparation for installing the trim items ofthe bundle associated with the identified room.
 17. The method claimedin claim 9, wherein the step of preparing a bundle comprises includinginstallation instructions in the bundle.
 18. A method for providinginterior trim for a window installed in an exterior wall of a home,comprising the steps of: placing a pre-assembled window trim assemblycomprising a window casing and integrally attached window jamb in aninterior wall of the home, wherein the jamb extends toward the exteriorof the home and frames the window, and the casing frames the jambagainst the interior wall; and securing the window trim assembly inplace.
 19. A window trim assembly for trimming an interior area of awindow installed in an exterior wall of a home, comprising: a windowjamb; a window casing attached to and framing the window jamb; and awindow stool attached to the window casing and window jamb.
 20. Arailing assembly for trimming the edge of an elevated walking area of ahome, comprising: an upper railing formed of railing millwork material;a lower railing formed of railing millwork material; and a plurality ofbalusters parallel to one another and extending between the upper andlower railings and having ends secured within bores in the upper andlower railings.
 21. A panel assembly for trimming an interior wall of ahome, comprising: a rectangular panel; and at least one base cap boxcomprising a rectangular sub-panel framed with molding attached to aface of the rectangular panel.